Tantech received an email from a spinner in NSW, Susan P, enquiring whether we had a product for scouring wool. This enquiry was initiated because we had an advertisement in 'Wool Pages' for our wool & sheepskin detergent. That detergent is based on chemicals used in the scouring & tanning of sheepskin but is for use with finished sheepskin and knitted wool products.
We adjusted the formulation as a wool scour product (500ml and 5 litre containers) and sent a sample to Susan for her to try.
Susan wrote back to say:
"Just wanted to let you know I scoured my first fleece the other day, it has dried now and I am very happy with it.
It is a ram's fleece, cross Corriedale/Merino, a beautiful, soft, black fleece but EXTREMELY greasy. He was uncoated, which means it had more dirt in it than usual. I don't know if you know, but most sheep kept for hand spinning wear coats to keep the fleece in A1 condition.
I had 1.7kg of the fleece where the staple was under 100mm, a bit too short for me to spin in the grease. Because it is such a fine fleece I was going to get the 1.7kg professionally prepared which cost more than the fleece per kilo; but as your Woolscour has worked so well I thought I would give it a go. I used 60ml x 2 washes, a total of 120ml, and I washed the whole 1.7kg in one go, (looked bit like a hairy monster in the laundry tub) but it couldn't have worked out better in my opinion.
I have ordered a fleece from Shiloh, which should be arriving shortly and also two export quality fleeces from Tarndwarncoort when they shear in March next year. I would like to specialise in the finest quality fleece I can find and take my time spinning them. Now that I have your Woolscour, I know I will get a fantastic finished product, well worth the effort. The fleeces are more expensive but when you compare the cost of the raw materials to the man-hours, it is minute. I've had a chance to do some spinning the last couple of days, I want to get a jumper finished before the weather gets too warm to knit and spin."
FIBRE SCOUR
Instruction for use:
Fibre Scour is based on our Woolskin Sheepskin but has increased grease dispersing properties which removes the heavy lanolin grease in newly shorn wool.
Fibre Scour leaves the fleece soft and clean, ready for spinning.
Scour by hand only- do not use washing machine - do not agitate.
Place 20m of Fibre Scour into each 10 lt hot water. Submerge the fleece or spun yarn in the hot water solution and leave for 5 minutes. Then gently paddle the fleece down to release any dirt and grease.
When it appears that no more dirt is being released, the tied skeins or fleece can be spun in a washing machine if so desired. If washing by hand gently squeeze the yarn/fleece - do not wring.
Place the yarn/fleece back in to clean hot water and rinse gently and thoroughly. Repeat the scouring process if water beads a lot or you can still feel grease.
Note: Wool can tolerate hot water prior to knitting provided the scour and rinse temperatures are similar. For ongoing care of woollens & natural fibres use Delicates Wash